Transferring to NIU is an exciting step in your academic journey. The coursework and experiences you complete before transferring can help you make meaningful progress toward your healthcare career.
Pre-health planning can be complicated for transfer students because you are balancing transfer coursework, NIU degree requirements and admission requirements of future professional schools. Planning ahead can help you avoid repeating courses, stay on track in important science sequences, and make the best use of your time before and after transferring.
The NIU Transfer Center can help you navigate the overall transfer process, and Pre-health Professions can help you think specifically about how your transfer coursework fits into your preparation for professional school.
Don't wait until you're ready to apply to professional school to get connected. The earlier you begin planning, the more options you will have as you build your path toward a healthcare career.
Not necessarily. It depends on which courses you completed, how they transfer to NIU, your grades, your intended profession and the requirements of the professional schools you are considering.
Do not repeat coursework unnecessarily without first reviewing your transfer credit and professional school requirements.
Many professional schools accept community college coursework, but policies vary by profession and individual program. Some programs may also want to see strong performance in upper-level science coursework completed at a four-year institution.
Students planning to apply to M.D. programs can review the AAMC's MSAR report on community college coursework (PDF) to compare policies among medical schools.
Students pursuing other health professions should research the policies of the individual programs they are considering.Not necessarily. The best plan depends on your intended profession, major, previous coursework and anticipated transfer date.
Completing certain sequences before transferring, particularly Anatomy and Physiology I and II or a complete Physics I and II sequence, may be beneficial for some students.
Biology and chemistry require especially careful planning so that the courses you complete provide the appropriate NIU equivalencies and allow you to continue into subsequent coursework.
The course may still count toward your NIU degree, but it may not provide the prerequisite you need for the next science course or meet the expectations of your intended professional programs.
Review your transfer evaluation and discuss your options before registering for additional science coursework.
No. Professional schools generally do not require a specific undergraduate major.
Choose an NIU major that fits your interests and academic goals while making sure you complete the prerequisites required by your intended professional programs.
Your testing timeline should be based on when you have completed the coursework needed to prepare for the exam and when you intend to apply to professional school—not simply your class standing or anticipated graduation date.
That's okay. Adjusting your timeline may give you additional time to complete prerequisites, demonstrate strong academic performance and develop the experiences needed for a competitive application.
Pre-health Professions Program
prehealth@niu.edu